YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. 



COCCYGUS AMERICANUS. 



THE yellow-billed cuckoo, though he tries hard to 

 make a showing of vocal talent, succeeds only in 

 producing a slovenly, guttural blubbering, with barely 

 tone enough to give positive pitch. The beginning of this 

 effort is a sepulchral and somewhat protracted sound, 

 which bursts into several rapid, boisterous bubbles, fol- 

 lowed by others softer and slower, farther and farther 

 apart. 



L Q f * m.&dim 



Lflr r 6 t t T^ I! C I! C C C H 



Wau - olp, olp, olp, olp, olp, olp, olp. 



The yellow-breasted chat exhibits the same rhythmic 

 peculiarity in his chattings, and so does the woodpecker, 

 drumming on a board or dry limb for the mere sound of 

 it ; but in quality nothing can be compared with this slop- 

 ping performance, unless it be that of the loose-mouthed 

 hound lapping from a pan of milk. 



The cuckoos, graceful, beautiful birds, and ever rapt in 

 solemn revery, are solitary voices, seldom heard more than 

 one at a time. 



